That meant Sprint Cup qualifying was canceled and points leader Jimmie Johnson will start from the pole. Matt Kenseth will start from the outside pole. Terry Cook and Aric Almirola will miss the race.

The Nationwide Aaron's 312, scheduled to run Saturday, was postponed to Sunday and is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. after the Cup race. ESPN2 will televise the Nationwide race.

"This decision was made based on advice from the National Weather Service and the Talladega County Emergency Management Agency," a statement from the speedway read. "Fans are strongly encouraged to take necessary precautions to ensure their safety, especially those guests camping on speedway property."

Tickets for the Aaron's 312 will be honored on Sunday.

Many drivers went back to Charlotte instead of wait out the storm. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was not among them and solicited ideas during a press conference about what he should do as he waited.

"I'll be looking up at the sky all day, I reckon," Earnhardt said.

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To open his media availability on Friday, Johnson was asked if he and Jeff Gordon had spoken since their clash at Texas.

"Sure, did you guys hear about the fight we got into?" Johnson said. "Man, we just got into a hell of a fight. I caught him good with the right hook and am glad he's wearing those shades."

He was joking, of course. Johnson hasn't been in a fist-fight since grade school. He and Gordon both said all was well between the Hendrick Motorsports teammates in the 24-48 shop.

"We played a lot of phone tag and sent texts and voicemails," Gordon said. "He was testing at Indy, but we definitely communicated. We're fine; everything's good. It's just like what I said on Monday after the wreck, it was just two guys racing really hard."

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Kurt Busch signed a five-year contract extension with Penske Racing.

Busch's previous contract had an option for 2011.

"I didn't talk to any other teams," he said. "When I weighed my options personally, with my wife Eva and my manager (John Caponigro), we looked at other teams, we tried to find scenarios that would fit for us, but none of them were as powerful as creating the longevity with Penske."

Part of what helped the process for Busch was Penske's acquisition of Shell/Pennzoil as a sponsor. Consequently, Busch will part with Miller Lite next season and drive the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil car instead.

His teammate, Brad Keselowski, will move into the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge.

"It was a tough decision to step away from something because I'm such a loyal guy," Busch said. "In the end being committed to roger Penske is the ultimate balance."

Read Tania Ganguli's blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/nutsandbolts or e-mail her at .